Eh...just looks like Stanley is the flavor of the week. The combine was over a month ago and from everything I've read, he performed pretty well at ND pro day. So not sure why there are concerns about his athleticism all of a sudden. The guy was the consensus 2nd rated OT just yesterday with the only guy rated ahead of him likely being the #1 pick. So unless he absolutely bombed his pro day workout and/or interviews, we'd be crazy not to take him if he fell to us.
If Stanley fell to use at 22, you take him. No hesitation. No matter what the situation. The only exception is an injury.
If Stanley made it past Indy at 18, my head would probably explode. They've needed a sure fire left tackle for like a decade, and Stanley is a guy who can no question play left tackle. He may slide a few picks, but I can't imagine him sliding that far.
The "passive" is the part that concerns me. I honestly don't know too much about his play outside of the combine. But the Texans don't need another player who is lacking motivation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former <a href="https://twitter.com/UHCougarFB">@UHCougarFB</a> OT Alex Cooper invited to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> workout for local draft-eligible players</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/717028107174023169">April 4, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former <a href="https://twitter.com/UHCougarFB">@UHCougarFB</a> RB Ryan Jackson and safety Adrian McDonald invited to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> workout of local draft-eligible players</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/717112047700303872">April 4, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a WR in the first round, I think Texans will draft a DE and OT or OT and DE in the next 2 rounds. They also need a S, TE, C, LB.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/715907730561589249">April 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They have capable starting OTs, even with Brown's injury. Pleasant is your starting strong safety and you have no starting center. You better not be waiting till day 3 to pick those positions.
Guess it really depends on how they feel about Bergstrom and Mancz. Kelly and Martin are the top C prospects but it seems like there is significant drop off after them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Take a look at the official Game Changers tv show teaser for tomorrow <a href="https://t.co/uBsL0DDIqm">https://t.co/uBsL0DDIqm</a></p>— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) <a href="https://twitter.com/BraxtonMiller5/status/717464050905391104">April 5, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They are unknowns and haven't been full time starters at the positions the Texans would be asking them to start. If the opportunity arises, they should trade down from 1-22. They should be able to get Kelly/Martin or Bell/Cash.
They are paying Bergstrom too much to be a bench player. If he isn't the starter, that is a busted deal. Also, I think there are 3 or 4 other players who can play as centers, but they are kind of scheme limited. Jack Allen, for instance, is a mud wrestling thug at center, but if you run a bunch of complex pulls, he's not going to be athletic enough to pull it off. The exact opposite for Max Tuerk, who moves like a tight end. But if you run power left/power right all game against mostly even fronts, you might like Tuerk's athleticism more than some of the more highly rated guys.
I think, or maybe it is hope, that he is getting paid that much because of his versatility. The Texans like players like that.
You never know. Most didn't think they would go CB in the 1st last year. And all the speculation and mocking them to take WR in the 1st is speculation guessing. Nothing they have done gives us that impression.
[Insider] Mel Kipers latest mock draft Spoiler 1. Tennessee Titans *Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss At this point, I think that while Jalen Ramsey is the type of talent you could consider here, the need to protect the face of the franchise wins out unless they find a way to trade out of this spot. The top left tackle in the draft goes to a team where offensive line help is a must. No change from the previous mock. Watch Tunsil's highlights 2. Cleveland Browns Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State He's not the top QB on my board, but this isn't a prospect ranking, it's a projection. The addition of Robert Griffin III does provide some added developmental insurance here so they don't have to start a rookie, and it also gives them a chance to wait on a QB pick if they really like one of the guys who could be around in Round 2. Watch Wentz's highlights 3. San Diego Chargers *Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State I do think they could consider Ronnie Stanley here, but if it's about the best player available here, I think Ramsey has a good shot. I know there are concerns he'll face some developmental hurdles as a rookie, but all cornerbacks do, and Ramsey's ceiling is extremely high. Watch Ramsey's highlights 4. Dallas Cowboys *Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State I don't think they should be out of the market for a quarterback this high, but it's hard to go wrong with the best pure pass-rusher in the draft. Bosa might not be the kind of freakish athlete you peg for a future 20-sack season, but he's a much better athlete than many give him credit for, and he'll be an early contributor who can stay on the field in any situation. Watch Bosa's highlights 5. Jacksonville Jaguars *Myles Jack, LB, UCLA This guy just makes you better on the defensive side of the ball. The game comes so easy to him, and while we say it often, his ability to cover almost anyone with a legit linebacker frame is where it really stands out. Draft him and expect him to start right away. Watch Jack's highlights 6. Baltimore Ravens *Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State The Ravens could go in a number of directions here, but this is a spot where Elliott starts to come into play for teams who want to stay strict to a "best player available" strategy. No question he'll benefit any team he lands with, including the Ravens. Watch Elliott's highlights 7. San Francisco 49ers *Jared Goff, QB, California Sticking with this pick. Even if Colin Kaepernick remains at quarterback -- that feels less and less likely -- I don't know if Goff would be out of the equation here. Goff has some special traits that could help him get on the field pretty quickly if Chip Kelly can trust him with the offense. Watch Goff's highlights 8. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon A steal at this point, Buckner would look pretty good on a defensive line with Fletcher Cox. Buckner has the ability to really control an offensive lineman and disrupt offenses, and his versatility makes him useful pretty much anywhere. Watch Buckner's highlights 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers *Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame I could see Stanley going as high as No. 3 overall, which makes him a reasonable value here. The Bucs did target offensive line help in last year's draft, but ceiling is a pretty big question mark, and they shouldn't make the same mistake the Colts did with Andrew Luck when it comes to building a solid group in front of their franchise talent. Watch Stanley's highlights 10. New York Giants *Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State The Giants could go a few different directions here, as their spending spree in free agency, particularly on defense, doesn't mean that adding a pass-rusher or cornerback is out of the question here. But Conklin can be plugged in immediately at right tackle, and could even battle for the starting job on the left side. Watch Conklin's highlights 11. Chicago Bears *Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Sticking with the same pick here from the previous mock. The Bears did a nice job in free agency at inside linebacker, but Floyd is the edge defender who could really help early in passing downs. Watch Floyd's highlights 12. New Orleans Saints Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville Another one I'm not changing from the previous mock. Rankins offers as much interior quickness as you're going to find in this draft, a class loaded with good interior defenders. More disruption from the defensive line is a recipe for a rebound for the Saints' defense. 13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia) **Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Lee offers tremendous upside, and I think a smart defensive coordinator will find him extremely versatile. He's an explosive, blitzing threat who is great in space and will grow into an above-average coverage linebacker. Athletes like this are special, and Lee has the instincts to go with that raw ability. Watch Lee's highlights 14. Oakland Raiders *Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida The Raiders have done a lot of work in free agency to address the defensive side of the ball, but they need help at cornerback and could be tickled to find the best pure corner in the draft at this spot. Hargreaves lacks some measurables, but the tape doesn't lie. Watch Hargreaves' highlights 15. Los Angeles Rams *Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis Lynch needs a lot of development, but for a franchise desperate for a quarterback, he could be worth the bet. Could the Rams be one of the teams willing to move up for Goff or Wentz? It's not entirely out of the question. 16. Detroit Lions *Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss The Lions have needs elsewhere, but getting the top wide receiver in the draft class at No. 16 overall is a good value. It's absurd to say Treadwell can replace Calvin Johnson -- nobody is doing that -- but he does give them length, strong hands and playmaking ability. They can get a good D-lineman in either of the next two rounds thanks to so much depth at the position. Watch Treadwell's highlights 17. Atlanta Falcons Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama You could make a case that Ragland is as ready to contribute on Sundays as any defender in this draft. Yes, he's an instinctive tackling machine at the line of scrimmage, but Ragland can cover ground. Atlanta can put him to work immediately. Watch Ragland's highlights 18. Indianapolis Colts Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State It's hard for me to see a situation in which one of the top three offensive tackles is still available here, but Decker is a solid value at this slot and I don't think the Colts can go wrong with a "best offensive lineman available" strategy, potentially more than once. Watch Decker's highlights 19. Buffalo Bills *Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Given his productivity and well-rounded game, Lawson would be a good get in this range. The Ryan brothers have to get the defense turned around or they could both be elsewhere in 2017, and Lawson is the kind of player who can get on the field early and help. Watch Lawson's highlights 20. New York Jets *Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M One of the fastest-rising prospects in the draft, Ifedi has the prototype frame for an NFL left tackle, with long arms and quick feet. You're certainly projecting a little here, because he's far more about potential than polish at this point, but you could end up with a steal at a need position. Ifedi can also play guard. 21. Washington Redskins Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama Washington went after physical trench players in the 2015 draft, and Reed would be a continuation of that trend. There isn't a better defender against the run, and Reed is ready to get on the field for pretty much any team. Watch Reed's highlights 22. Houston Texans *Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor They have a big-time talent in DeAndre Hopkins, but Coleman adds another dimension, and is the kind of speedster who can open up space for others in the offense because you simply have to respect his speed. If you think you have your QB, you better add another weapon. Spoiler 23. Minnesota Vikings Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Sticking with this pick from the previous mock. As I said then, you have Stefon Diggs, but this is a huge year for Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings need to add another weapon in the passing game. Doctson is a magician when the ball is in the air, and he can make plays after the catch as well. Watch Doctson's highlights 24. Cincinnati Bengals *Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Free agency didn't help Andy Dalton all that much. A.J. Green is still all-world at wide receiver, but they could use another player who will get the attention of opposing defensive coordinators and make safeties take a step or two backwards. Fuller has big-time speed and was the best deep threat in college football last season. 25. Pittsburgh Steelers William Jackson III, CB, Houston The Steelers could be a better secondary away from Super Bowl contention, and while you don't want to rely on rookies back there too often, Pittsburgh doesn't have a choice and should add talent wherever there's value to be had. Jackson is rising on boards everywhere and could be a good get at this stage. 26. Seattle Seahawks **Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State I know the offensive line is a concern, but I don't think you can sacrifice talent for need here, especially when the reality is you're not being realistic if you think there's an immediate upgrade at left tackle to be found here. Apple has major upside as a physical cornerback with length. He'll fit right in. Watch Apple's highlights 27. Green Bay Packers *Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State A high-energy speedster coming off the edge looks great on this defense, and the more you watch Correa, the more you see the potential for him to help a pass-rush right away. He can take some pressure off Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. 28. Kansas City Chiefs *Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State He's listed at safety, but Bell has the kind of coverage ability that some think he could handle cornerback. In a nutshell, he's a versatile talent in the secondary, and the Chiefs -- or any team, for that matter -- will find use for him. Watch Bell's highlights 29. Arizona Cardinals Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama The addition of Chandler Jones gives the Cardinals a much-needed pass-rusher. Now a team without glaring needs does have a noticeable one on the interior of the offensive line. Kelly is a plug-and-play option at center, and he's also in the "best available" mix at this point. 30. Carolina Panthers *Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB, Oklahoma State The Panthers will be reminded how impactful a dominating pass-rush can be every time they roll the Super Bowl tape -- though I don't suspect that'll be too often. Kony Ealy is on the rise, but Charles Johnson turns 30 this summer, and Ogbah has major upside. Again: You can't have enough good pass-rushers. 31. Denver Broncos *A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama The departure of Malik Jackson in free agency makes Robinson an easy pick here. And really, even if Jackson was still around, this pick makes sense. If there's a big question at this stage, it's whether John Elway could be in the QB market right here. He's got time, and he usually has a pretty good plan, too. Watch Robinson's highlights * There will be only 31 picks in the first round in 2016, with New England's first-round pick forfeited. Prospects in play in the second round Quarterbacks: Connor Cook, Michigan State; Christian Hackenberg, Penn State Running backs: Derrick Henry, Alabama Wide receivers: Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma; Michael Thomas, Ohio State; Braxton Miller, Ohio State Tight ends: Hunter Henry, Arkansas; Jerell Adams, South Carolina Offensive tackles: Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Shon Coleman, Auburn; Jerald Hawkins, LSU Guards: Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Cody Whitehair, Kansas State Centers: Nick Martin, Notre Dame Defensive ends: Jihad Ward, Illinois; Kevin Dodd, Clemson; Jonathan Bullard, Florida; Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Defensive tackles: Kenny Clark, UCLA; Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech; Chris Jones, Mississippi State; Andrew Billings, Baylor; Adolphus Washington, Ohio State; Austin Johnson, Penn State; Hassan Ridgeway, Texas; Maliek Collins, Nebraska Inside linebackers: Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia Outside linebackers: Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky; Deion Jones, LSU; Su'a Cravens, USC; Joshua Perry, Ohio State; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin Cornerbacks: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech; Mackensie Alexander, Clemson; Artie Burns, Miami (Fla.); Xavien Howard, Baylor Safeties: Karl Joseph, West Virginia; Jalen Mills, LSU; Keanu Neal, Florida; Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Casserly: Joey Bosa better than Ziggy Ansah, Leonard Williams + safer than Jadeveon Clowney <a href="https://t.co/Q7PILZmdpI">https://t.co/Q7PILZmdpI</a> <a href="https://t.co/qdvpZ3NWyI">pic.twitter.com/qdvpZ3NWyI</a></p>— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_CFB/status/717710760760197120">April 6, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Based on what I'm hearing, I won't be shocked if Will Fuller is the first WR drafted.</p>— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/status/717535842198167552">April 6, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'm told Oklahoma State DL Emmanuel Ogbah has already visited the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash">#Bucs</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bills?src=hash">#Bills</a>, and will be visiting the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> soon.</p>— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rand_Getlin/status/717461575406215168">April 5, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well a rookie isn't really going to help on either one of those fronts but I hear what you're saying. I like both Kelly and Martin but have to wonder if BoB is willing to put a rookie Center under their new $70M QB. As far as Bergstrom, they brought him in to play Center and paid him starter salary so would have to think they are intending him for that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> and Seven Lakes Caleb Benenoch to visit the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>. <a href="https://t.co/0diSt0l1Ts">https://t.co/0diSt0l1Ts</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFzopeuJbl">pic.twitter.com/MFzopeuJbl</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/717731045454528512">April 6, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
